The girls U16 team have come a long way. From a first training session in August 2021 to D3 league winners in May 2022, D 2 league winners in May 2023 and D1 league winners in May 2024. This year it was the big stage that awaited them. It’s U16 Premier division football against the giants of Cork School Girls football like Carrigaline, Douglas Hall and Corinthians. 
What seemed a dream in August 2021 is now a reality.
The coaching team of Sonya, Brendan, Reamonn and Colum are really excited to see these young ladies reach their full potential.

First up it was a home match against Ringmahon who really put it up to the girls with Carrigtwohill running out 3 – 1  winners in the second half. Then it was the long trip on a damp Sunday morning to Mallow with Carrigtwohill having too much for a very young Mallow team. Next up was Riverstown in the Cup and that was a hard 3 – 1 victory for Carrigtwohill and only for some crucial saves by Niamh Cuddigan in goal it could have been a lot tighter.
So last week we prepared well knowing that we were travelling to Carrigaline to take on one of the top teams in Cork. We knew it was going to be a real test for the girls and so it turned out to be.

Carrigtwohill started well and scored contender for goal of the season when Gemma O’Callaghan converted a Lily O’Connell corner. Any thoughts that Carrigtwohill had of adding quickly to their opening goal were quickly extinguished as a very slick Carrigaline team started to motor through the gears and attacked down Carrigtwohill’s wings incessantly. Carrigtwohill were under pressure but held their nerve. The Carrigtwohill defence regained composure and looked to have weathered the storm when Carrigaline struck an excellent equaliser. They moved the ball effortlessly from left to right and a bit of hesitancy from the Carrigtwohill rear guard afforded Carrigaline the space to shoot and it was one a piece.

People who don’t know these young ladies playing in the blue and amber would have thought that they would crumble, but no they didn’t. The leaders from 1 to 11 stood up to be counted and the defence of Megan, Gemma Daly and Isabel all started to play with Sarah Cronin playing a blinder keeping them all together. Midfield of Anna, Maedhbh and Amelia started to get to grips with their more illustrious opponents and it was certainly turning into a very hotly contested battle. Up front Lily worked tirelessly, and she was ably assisted by Gemma and Kinga.

It was one a piece at the break and it was Carrigaline who sprung from the traps and threw everything at Carrigtwohill. Carrigtwohill were tiring and introduced Majka, Niamh and Kayla to great effect. Carrigtwohill seemed to have weathered the storm and appeared to have been regaining a foothold in the game when out of nowhere Carrigaline found another gear and had numerous shots on the Carrigtwohill goal but they were denied by Emily who had a very good second forty minutes between the posts.

So it finished one a piece, certainly it was a point gained for Carrigtwohill. Credit to both teams for leaving everything on the pitch. The great thing is that yesterday 5/6 of these young ladies played together for Cork in a 4 – 1 victory over Limerick. Foe’s one day and friends for life the following day and that’s what it’s all about. Having fun and making friends, having someone to pick you up when you make a mistake and knowing you’ll do the same.

Finally thanks to the Management team of Carrigaline, very humble and gracious and your kind words of encouragement were very much appreciated. A huge thanks to the referee Sarah Healy and of course to the families of the girls who always come out to support us.

We go again next Sunday in the National Cup.

Joint player of the match goes to Gemma O’Callaghan and Emily Benard.